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Overview

Korea DPR work another miracle

(FIFA.com) Monday 13 November 2006

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Sunday witnessed another remarkable triumph for Korea DPR as
they emerged victorious against Japan in the final of the AFC Youth
Championship.

Few had expected Jo Tong-Sop's team to return home with
the trophy, particularly after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the
Japanese in their opening match, but their renowned resolve shone
through once again at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India as
they clinched a 5-3 win on penalties after 120 minutes had finished
with the sides locked at 1-1.

It was all a far cry from the rocky road that Korea DPR endured
in qualifying for the tournament, one which only saw their place
secured thanks to the withdrawal of prospective play-off opponents
Myanmar, this after a 1-0 defeat to - yes, you guessed it -
Japan.

However, just two months on from the equally unexpected success
of the country's U-20 women in the FIFA U-20 Women's World
Championship Russia 2006, Jo's side responded to adversity to
once again defy both the odds and everyone's expectations. That
opening match defeat certainly triggered an immediate and emphatic
response from the North Koreans, who proceeded to pull off a
stunning 5-0 win against Iran before sealing their place in the
knockout stage with a single-goal victory over Tajikistan.

The resilient Eastern Asian continued in a similar vein in the
quarter-finals by conquering Iraq 2-0, a result that confirmed
their place alongside Korea Republic, Japan and Jordan at the FIFA
U-20 World Cup in Canada next year. Jordan were then disposed of in
the semi-final 1-0 to set up an enthralling final rematch with
Japan.

The favourites' two prior victories might have been seen to
hand them a psychological pre-match advantage, but within three
minutes any Japanese sense of superiority disappeared as Korea DPR
stormed into a deserved early lead through Ri Chol-Myong. Japan,
though, were not about the crumble and steadily set about proving
their quality, with Yosuke Kashiwagi's equalising goal on 34th
minute no more than they had deserved for a spirited fightback.

However, the remainder of regulation time and 30 minutes of
extra time passed without another goal, leaving these two
evenly-matched sides to be separated by a penalty shoot-out. There,
Korea DPR's goalkeeper Ju Kwang-Min proved the hero by blocking
the opening kick from Tsukasa Umesaki and paving the way for his
outfield team-mates to complete the job with a series of successful
strikes.

For their coach, it was the Korea DPR's harmonious teamwork
and determination for victory that had carried them through.
"We lost to Japan in the opener but I told my players to play
with a single mind and work as a team." He also warned the
football world that winning the continental title was just an
initial stride for the team: "We will show the watching world
we are capable of doing the same in next year's FIFA U-20 World
Cup in Canada."

His Japanese counteroart, Yasushi Yoshida, lamented his
side's defeat as Japan failed to change their image as the
tournament's 'perennial bridesmaid' at the sixth
attempt. "We were unlucky in our sixth final," he said.
"But our opponents played well and I accept this
result."

New stars emergeWith the likes of Shunsuke Nakamura, Mehdi Mahdavikia and
2005 AFC Youth Player of the Year Park Chu-Young among those to
have caught the eye at previous AFC Youth Championships, it was no
surprise that many eyes scanned the 2006 edition for the emergence
of yet more young stand-outs.

Outstanding throughout, Korea DPR's inspirational captain
Kim Kum-Il was awarded the tournament's Most Valuable Player
honour. Bossing the team's attacking play from the midfield,
Kim scored a brace against Iran, was on target again against Iraq
and again proved the man for the big occasion against Jordan in the
semi-final as he scored the only goal to send his team through.

Meanwhile, despite missing out on a 12th continental title,
Korea Republic proved the tournament's most potent attacking
force thanks largely to their striking duo of Shin Young-Rok and
Shim Young-Sung, who between them scored half of the team's 18
goals. These two colleagues were, in fact, deadlocked in the battle
for the coveted Golden Boot trophy with four goals each until the
third-placed play-off, but Shim then moved into his own by netting
in the 2-0 win over Jordan that sealed bronze for Korea
Republic.

Jordan claim Chinese scalpThere was also cause for celebration in Jordan, who came
second only to Korea DPR in the surprise package stakes by stunning
China in the all-important quarter-final and booking a place at the
FIFA U-20 World Cup.

After sweeping past Qatar and Bahrain in the preliminary round
last November, their AFC Youth Championship campaign got off to the
worst possible start with a 3-0 defeat to Korea Republic. The
outsiders then only just scraped past hosts India 3-2 before
securing their place in the last eight with a hard-fought 0-0 draw
with Kyrgyzstan.

Few gave them a chance against the last edition's
runners-up, China, who had stormed into the knockout stage with
three straight wins, but Danish coach Jan Poulsen's
counter-attacking game-plan worked a treat and a first-ever place
at the FIFA U-20 World Cup was duly secured with a 2-1
win.